Japan gets shocked after Islamic State militants Release video of killing their journalist early this morning, days after his plight as a hostage in Syria united many
people in praying for his release.”
Mr Kenji Goto was a pony-tailed man
with a friendly, carefree laugh, Mr. Goto was a veteran freelance reporter,
working often with other filmmakers and Japanese TV producers. His comments
were sometimes featured on Japanese mainstream media.
The 2005 book he
wrote about the suffering of children in Sierra Leone was titled “We Want
Peace, Not Diamonds.” But Mr. Kenji Goto had always stressed he was not a war
reporter. He had ine sisted he was instead devoted to telling the story of
regular people, one step removed from the war zone.
That took him to
refugee camps and orphanages. He told the stories of children suffering
violence, hunger and nightmares. In a testament to his
charm and integrity, people responded with an outpouring of support to try to
win his release.
A Facebook page, set
up immediately after the first video released by militants last month, quickly
drew tens of thousands of “Likes” and photo postings that showed people, from
not just Japan but around the world, holding up hand-written signs that said:
“I am Kenji goto.”
“Kenji lives on in
all our hearts. In our daily work. Every time you smile
with those around you, you will be sure to remember that big smile Kenji always
gave us,” wrote Taku Nishimae, a filmmaker living in New York and the page’s
creator.
An online petition
demanding the government do more to save Mr. Kenji Goto collected thousands of
signatures. Crowds have gathered outside the prime minister’s office, holding
up “Free Kenji goto” and “I am Kenji goto” signs.
Those who knew Mr. Kenji Goto said he was a gentle and honest man. On the streets of
Tokyo on Sunday, many people were clutching the Yomiuri newspaper extra with
the latest news, expressing disbelief that his captors went as far as to kill a
reporter.
US reporter James
Foley and American-Israeli journalist Steven Sotloff were among several
Westerns who had been killed by the ISIS militants in 2014.
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